This DIY Treadmill Desk Helps You Stay Fit While You Work

Building a treadmill desk can be as simple as putting a treadmill under a desk on blocks, but building a good one requires a little effort. Instructables user cessenburg wanted a good one, but didn’t want to put too much time and energy into it. Here’s what he did.

The build is a little more complicated than just sliding the treadmill under the desk and going to work. Cessenburg actually took the time to remove the incline motor, the handrails, and the control panel at the top. He took the panel apart to preserve the electronics and the emergency key, and re-attached it to the side of the treadmill so he could fit the used adjustable desk he scored for the project right over top of it. (It’s worth noting that while he left the emergency key on the side of the unit, the whole point is that it’s in reach while you use the treadmill, so if you DIY this yourself, you may want to keep that part of the panel attached to your desk—it wouldn’t be much more work, and it’ll keep you safer.)

Aside from making the treadmill fit, the adjustable-height workbench is really the key to this project. While standing desks are all the rage, simple workbenches with a hand-crank height control have been around for ages, and are easily available used at office surplus and supply stores, or on Craigslist.

We’ve shown you some great lookingtreadmill desks before, but they almost universally make use of the much-loved and now long-discontinued IKEA JERKER desk, which is hard to find even used these days. Hit the link below for the full walkthrough.